As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 309 The Strange Man's Omen
Xiao Xinyue did not take Zhang Li with her.

They simply sent someone to take care of Zhang Li's life, at least to prevent him from ending up on the streets.

Zhang Boxing's achievements are enough to benefit his descendants.

However, Zhang Li's temperament and talent are not suited to such immense wealth; giving it to him would be a waste. It would be better to let him live a peaceful and ordinary life in the county town where his father had devoted his life to governing.

Even without great wealth and status, a peaceful and safe life is the best outcome for him.

Those who consider themselves extraordinary will eventually settle into mediocrity.

The real and fake Azure Flame Immortals, Wangyang County sighs... but this is just an interlude.

The army escorted a group of high-ranking officials and nobles of the Qian Yuan dynasty, crossing mountains and seas, until they finally arrived at the foot of a magnificent city.

On the mottled city wall, the two characters "Yueyang" written in a vigorous and elegant style bear the marks left by time.

The ancient capital, which had stood for five hundred years, had changed hands many times and been ravaged by war, but in the end it returned to the hands of the Xiao family's Qian Yuan clan.

Upon arrival, Xiao Xinyue and her entourage stood in neat rows outside Yueyang City.

Thanks to the careful planning and preparation of the new dynasty officials, the journey went quite smoothly. They only encountered a few groups of unruly bandits and did not encounter any assassination attempts, army attacks, or other such chaotic events.

The group arrived at their destination.

In the center of the procession, a woman rode a fine horse, head held high, horse's tail fluttering in the wind, exuding nobility and beauty, and displaying a heroic and spirited demeanor.

The last time she left this place, she was a fallen princess fleeing in disarray. This time, she returns with a vast army and countless officials; she is the new emperor of a new dynasty, renowned for her unparalleled elegance and grace.

"Brother Royal."

"Xin Yue...did it!"

Looking at the majestic capital city in the distance, Xiao Xinyue suddenly felt a lump in her throat. She swayed slightly, a mix of complex emotions welling up inside her.

Xiao Zhengyang's dying words at his bedside kept lingering in her mind.

No one knows what she sacrificed to bring this day to fruition.

All that pressure and hardship became nourishment for her to shine.

This makes her shine brightly and appear exceptionally beautiful.

She raised her hand and shouted, "Everyone, let's go back to Yueyang!"

Suddenly, a strong wind arose, blowing fiercely.

The armored soldiers raised their weapons and shouted, "Qian Yuan is mighty!"

"Your Majesty is mighty!"

Its roar shook the heavens, its momentum was like that of a tiger.

The army marched into the city in a grand and imposing manner.

The princess who fled in disgrace years ago has returned home!

"Is something wrong today? What's that noise outside?"

"You didn't know that? They posted a notice a month ago that His Majesty Qian Yuan was coming back."

"Who's the emperor now? Sigh... are we going to have another war?"

"Qian Yuan? You mean..."

"really?"

"The traitors have finally been wiped out! Emperor Qianlong was truly wise!"

"I'm coming!"

"How magnificent!"

"Is that His Majesty? The one riding the white wolf must be Mingchen!"

“Mingchen, I even met him before! It’s hard to believe how old he is now…”

……

It was, after all, the capital city, having endured wars and changed hands several times.

But in any case, it has a history of five hundred years.

Even the Blood-Clad Army, a group of unruly and vicious bandits, did not cause much damage.

Compared to other cities filled with despair and hardship, this place is much better.

The city can maintain its daily operations, and although the people live in some fear, they are not having any problem with basic food and clothing.

Today is a special day. Many people have come out of their homes and stood on the streets, all looking in the same direction, eagerly anticipating what's to come.

The army entered the city and lined up neatly in rows along the roadside.

They escorted a group of distinguished individuals toward the palace.

The people watched from afar, trying hard to recognize each name.

These people on the rooftop will become their talking points in the future. To even glance at them would be an honor, a gain for them.

In this chaotic world, the people are half fearful and half hopeful.

I just hope that with the new dynasty and the new atmosphere, they won't cause any more trouble for the common people.

……

"I am Jia Wu, the Tiger General of Qian Yuan."

"Who is the commander guarding the city? Why don't you open the gates and surrender at once?!"

"Our dynasty has already destroyed the Great Qi, and our 100,000 troops are marching eastward, unstoppable!"

"I, Emperor Qian, am the rightful ruler of this era, wise and mighty, the chosen one by Heaven."

"You shall not resist any longer; those who surrender will not be killed."

"Otherwise, you will be executed without mercy!"

Before the city wall, the general, clad in silver armor and riding a white horse, his helmet plume fluttering in the wind, exuded a magnificent aura.

Holding a long spear, he pointed it directly at the flags fluttering on the city wall and shouted loudly.

"Those who surrender will not be killed!"

"Those who surrender will not be killed!"

"Those who surrender will not be killed!"

Behind him, well-equipped and imposing soldiers raised their weapons and shouted loudly.

Its momentum was terrifying and unstoppable.

For a moment, the general guarding the city was so frightened that he trembled all over.

"General, let's surrender."

"The momentum of Qian Yuan's eastward expansion is now unstoppable!"

"The people in the city have already started to panic. We are in trouble from both inside and outside. We can't hold the city."

"Did you see that black siege weapon? It's said that it contains lightning, and it took down Xiaoyao City in half a day."

"Even a fortified city like Xiaoyao City couldn't hold them off, let alone us?!"

"The Great Qi is gone, and Xu Zhongling is dead. The Qian Yuan is the greatest power in the world. How can we possibly contend with it?"

"Lower the price! Lower the price!"

……

Beside him, several subordinates looked alarmed and kept trying to comfort him.

Ultimately, subordinates are all just employees; it doesn't matter who they work for.
Even if one were to be demoted to the Qian Yuan level, their status wouldn't actually change much.

The garrison commander looked at his imposing soldiers, then at his own panicked troops, and then at the chaotic city. Finally, he sighed and said, "Open the city gates."

Qian Yuan's departure from the east was too decisive and resolute.

The Great Qi Dynasty fell, and Wang Huai died.

The largest state left in the Central Plains was Qian Yuan, and the empress gave them no chance to continue developing and establishing their own independent regimes.

How could a small city and a small separatist force possibly withstand the unstoppable Qian Yuan army?
"General, the city gates are open! The city gates are open!"

"Hahaha!"

The guards beside the silver-armored general outside the city kept laughing and shouting.

As the army entered the city, the light and nimble cannons were easily dragged along by the cavalry, without any fear of them being damaged.

These cannons are all fake, made of wood, just to mislead people.

They easily entered the city and changed hands over the flag.

Meanwhile, the same thing was happening in various city fortresses in the East.

After a long period of silence, Qian Yuan finally revealed to the world the hidden strength behind its stealthy development.

As Xiao Xinyue and her officials returned to Yueyang, the army marched east to reclaim lost territory.

The main policy that Emperor Qianlong formulated for the eastward expansion was to appease and persuade the enemy to surrender. Only when encountering stubborn resistance would he launch a large-scale attack.

Essentially, the East is also the land of Qian Yuan, and the people and soldiers of the East are also subjects of Qian Yuan. Naturally, we should minimize losses if possible.

The best strategy is to subdue the enemy without fighting; the next best is to attack a city.

Now, the Qian Yuan dynasty is powerful and enjoys popular support. Furthermore, it is riding on the prestige of the two marquises' great victory, so it can be said that it has been given a full buff.

Now, marching east will bring military merit.

When Qian Yuan's army marched eastward, they were invincible.

The remnants of the Great Qi regime and various separatist forces were no match for Qian Yuan.

The soldiers going on the expedition need not be afraid; it is these separatist forces in the east who should be afraid.

Just as I had predicted in the court of Kito.

The soldiers of Qian Yuan were unstoppable and quickly recovered the lost territory.

Most of the enemy troops surrendered at the mere sight of them, and even those who resisted were quickly wiped out.

Qian Yuan possesses both power and substance.

After several years of chaos, unification has become a certainty.

……

The long-sealed palace gates were opened.

"Okay...okay...okay!"

"Generals, you've worked hard!"

Xiao Xinyue listened to the urgent report from the southern messenger outside the palace gate and nodded to herself.

It's all good news.

"You should go and rest first."

"Yes!"

The messenger bowed and then withdrew.

Only Xiao Xinyue and a few of her attendants and guards were present; the officials had been settled elsewhere.

Mingchen and his wife did not accompany her.

Despite the long journey, some ceremonies will not be held until tomorrow. The magnificent palace, unaffected by the palace coup and war, has remained the center of power revered by the people for five hundred years, still standing here, majestic and imposing.

Xiao Xinyue used to live here. She lived here for twenty years and was quite familiar with it.

However, after returning from a few years away, his status had changed drastically, and seeing this scene again, he had some new insights.

The main gate opened, and the hall was empty.

The throne sat quietly on the high platform, waiting for the supreme ruler of the world to sit upon it.

"Da da da~"

Clear footsteps echoed through the main hall.

Xiao Xinyue walked slowly forward, each step as if she had crossed mountains and rivers, traveled thousands of miles, and measured the rich land of Qian Yuan.

Finally, they arrived at the seat that everyone fought and fought for, the seat they dreamed of.

Many people have sat in this seat, and after several changes of hands, it was finally her turn.

She gently stroked the armrest of the throne and sat down.

She looked down at the main hall of Yueyang Palace from a perspective she had never seen before.

This is a completely different feeling from when I was in Jiqu.

"Brother Emperor..."

In a daze, she seemed to see her thin brother appear in front of her, his face pale, but his eyes gentle, looking at her quietly with the most anticipated comfort in his eyes.

She shook her head, her vision blurry: "Xin Yue, I have lived up to your expectations!"

"Chirp, chirp, chirp~"

Suddenly, the clear chirping of birds shattered Xiao Xinyue's hazy reverie.

She was taken aback, stood up, and looked at the eaves outside the door.

Perhaps no one has come here for too long, and no one has managed or maintained it.

Birds actually flew to the eaves and started building their nests with mud and twigs.

These birds have quite the courage to build nests under the eaves of the main hall.

She looked up and quietly gazed at the bird's nest.

Suddenly, I felt a gust of wind brush against my face, and time and space around me seemed to stand still at that moment.

An invisible aura rippled outwards from behind her.

She was jolted, her hair stood on end, and she turned around abruptly, only to see a dazzling, radiant light filling the sky.

Suddenly, a strange figure appeared behind her.

He was dressed in a brocade robe depicting mountains and rivers, and was over two meters tall. He stood barefoot in mid-air, his whole body radiating golden light and exuding an extraordinary aura. Under his divine light, the surrounding scenery gradually became nothingness.

He seemed so close, yet so far away.

He seemed to exist somewhere in a real way, yet also seemed to be an illusion.

Its appearance was extremely strange; it had no eyes, no nose, no ears, only a mouth, and fair skin. It was a man, but its age was unclear.

"Zhi!"

The sword was drawn, its power fierce and imposing.

Xiao Xinyue's gaze hardened, her expression fearless and resolute. She gripped her sword hilt, the tip pointing directly at the mysterious and enigmatic figure: "Who are you?!"

She has never lacked courage.

This strange person is clearly some kind of superhuman with special abilities.

Their presence in this palace, secretly setting up this display, suggests they are likely enemies, not friends.

In a short instant, Xiao Xinyue's mind raced with thoughts, and she made a preliminary judgment.

At the same time, mountains and rivers converged, and an invisible force surrounded her, as heavy as mountains and as vast and boundless as the sea.

She is the queen, carrying the hopes of millions of people and their strength.

This is the power she gained after swearing a blood oath that day.

With the accumulation of experience over these years as king, this power has become increasingly strong and refined.

She felt that the mountains, rivers, lakes and seas beneath her feet were protecting her, and that countless people were calling out to her.

She can use these powers; she can inspire and motivate the soldiers…

Therefore, she is no longer too afraid of those cultivators and demons who possess strange and mysterious powers.

"Your Majesty, do not resort to arms."

"Colorless and faceless, formless and without appearance, I am no one, I am one of millions."

"I am you, and you are me."

"What you desire, I am here for."

The two stood opposite each other.

Suddenly, the strange man spoke, his voice sometimes near, sometimes far, inexplicable and unintelligible.

Xiao Xinyue narrowed her eyes.

Mingchen once chatted with her and found that the higher one's position, the more one likes to beat around the bush and use a lot of messy and confusing things to elevate oneself.

To plan ahead from below, and to achieve great things from small beginnings, one must see beyond the surface to the essence.

Even immortals and gods have desires and struggles.
What he is, what his purpose is, what he has done... these are the things that matter.

The rest of the obscuring fog can be ignored.

She didn't lower her sword, still pointing it at the strange man opposite her: "What brings you before me?"

Meeting Xiao Xinyue's gaze, the strange man raised one hand to his chest, bowed slightly, and said: "I have come to interpret the celestial phenomena for Your Majesty. If Your Majesty understands, you will overcome this calamity and achieve your thousand-year-old goal. If you do not understand, then all your efforts will be in vain, and your heaven-sent achievements will be destroyed in an instant."

Xiao Xinyue's expression changed: "Oh?"

Her eyes widened, and she took a few steps forward, feigning urgency as she asked, "What celestial phenomenon? What do you mean, sir?"

The strange man pointed to the bird's nest under the eaves outside the palace: "Your Majesty, at the time of restoration, Heaven has given us a warning: the magpie has a nest, but the dove occupies it."

What does Your Majesty think?

With a gentle wave of his hand, the bird's nest was instantly destroyed by an invisible force.

Strangely, all the mud, sand, and withered branches were suspended in mid-air and did not fall to the ground.

Inside the nest, however, were two small birds that were completely different from the birds that had built the nest. They were quite large, almost exceeding the original size of the birds that had built the nest.

Its mouth, claws, and chest are red, and it holds its head high as if waiting to be fed.

"Oh?"

Xiao Xinyue raised an eyebrow upon hearing this: "A cuckoo taking over someone else's nest?"

"What do you mean, sir? Are you saying that someone will usurp my country?"

She was very clever and understood what the other person meant in an instant.

That's ancient history; Dong Zhuo's usurpation of the throne was a thing of the past.

The delay is a bit high, sir!

The strange man didn't say anything upon hearing this, and just stood there quietly.

Leaving room for interpretation is a clever way of persuading others; it points out a point and leaves the rest for others to imagine.

He has no eyes, yet he seems to be able to see into people's hearts.

A pair of baby birds with red beaks, claws, and chests occupying a nest—who is this person targeting?

In this new dynasty, who holds a position of great prestige and has the ability to usurp the throne?
However, the emperor, upon receiving the news, showed no sign of tension or doubt whatsoever.

The strange man trembled.

But a sharp, cold sword light flashed from his body.

"You charlatans, die!"

Xiao Xinyue's gaze was cold and sharp. She held a long sword and exuded a magnificent aura. Behind her, one could vaguely see mountains, rivers, and swimming fish, with the phantom image of them leaping up to the Heavenly Gate.

There was no trace of the eagerness with which he had been asking for advice just moments before.

Something that's just a charlatan or a charlatan.

She was the emperor, supreme and unparalleled. Apart from Mingchen, she had never allowed anyone else to speak to her in such an attitude.

"Boom boom boom!"

Thunder roared in the clear sky.

The emperor's power was overwhelming, and his influence was overwhelming.

The heavens and earth seemed to twist into a giant vortex, with boundless power flowing within it, following the call of the Human Emperor.

As heavy as a mountain, as turbulent as a river.

This is not the magic power used by demon cultivators, but another, more real and pure power.

Space froze and shattered as the Emperor's Longsword, carrying the immense power of heaven and earth, slashed out with a deafening roar.

The strange man remained frozen in place.

The next moment, everything returned to calm.

His body was displaced and cut in two.

No blood gushed out, nothing happened, and it turned into specks of fluorescent light and disappeared.

"Your Majesty, I am you, and you are me..."

The strange man's voice still echoed in my ears, growing farther and farther away until it finally disappeared.

"His Majesty?!"

Everything shattered.

Several subordinates were somewhat bewildered when Xiao Xinyue suddenly drew her sword.

They saw nothing, but they inexplicably felt as if something terrifying had just happened, and the overwhelming pressure seemed to be crushing them.

After regaining their senses, they quickly gathered around Xiao Xinyue, adopting a protective stance.

Xiao Xinyue, who was being protected, gently shook her head: "It's alright."

She looked up and saw that the bird's nest under the eaves was still there, undamaged. Everything that had just happened seemed to be just a fleeting dream for Xiao Xinyue.

The birds seemed oblivious, diligently repairing their nest.

"Your Majesty, I suggest you have someone destroy this lair!"

I will be meeting with my ministers here tomorrow!

Seeing that Xiao Xinyue was paying attention to the bird's nest, a servant assumed that His Majesty found it in the way and spoke up.

Xiao Xinyue waved her hand dismissively and said, "Keep it!"

"Yes!"

Xiao Xinyue sheathed her sword, pondering the strange dream she had just had, whether real or not, and chuckled softly as she murmured, "A harbinger of doom? A cuckoo taking over someone else's nest?"

"Who is the dove? Who is the magpie?"

(End of this chapter)